3 Skills to Increase Your Presence
These 3 simple skills will make you a better presenter, better teammate, better client manager, and all-around better communicator.
You might be a great designer, fantastic problem solver, or renowned subject matter expert, but in the words of Warren Buffet:
“If you can’t communicate your ideas and get them across to other people, you’re giving up your potential.”
So how do you hone these skills and what’s entailed in a good presentation?
The best presenters are not just good speakers, they’re also good listeners.
You might think you need only to prepare persuasive speaking points in order to sell your work (and you do) but in order to capture attention and gain the trust of your audience, you also need to listen.
Too often we forget that listening is 50% of communication.
Whether you’re presenting research, creative concepts, or new company policies, listening allows you to tap into the hearts and minds of your clients, your teammates and stakeholders.
I’ve put together a 3-part framework to help you stay on track:
1. Be clear
When I work with clients, the first thing we do is define your objective.
Before you open Powerpoint (or Keynote or google slides), get clear on your message.
Spend a couple minutes thinking through the purpose of your presentation and what you want the audience to walk away.
Write down the 3 most important points you’d like to communicate.
You might have 30 things you want to talk about but they're not all equally important and limiting it to 3 provides focus and direction.
2. Be compelling
Once you’re clear on the purpose of your presentation, your job is to create an experience that builds interest and intrigue. There are many great techniques to engage your audience, including pictures, questions, humor, and stories.
Stories grab attention, elicit emotion and make your topic memorable. They are the felafel amidst the grilled chicken and pasta so if you want your audience to pay attention, spend time on your stories.
3. Be curious
Once you’ve designed your presentation, the next step is to stay curious when delivering your presentation. This is often the most challenging part, especially when things don't go as planned.
I’ve worked with creative teams for nearly twenty years and noticed two typical responses when people are met with critical feedback or concerns.
Option 1: Get defensive
Option 2: Shut down and don't respond at all
These are natural human responses to stress but neither gets you closer to your goal.
Curiosity, on the other hand, helps you move out of flight or fright and stay calm amidst tough questions and concerns.
When you feel the urge to defend your work or tune out, ask yourself these questions:
Why might the other person feel that way?
What additional information do they need to feel comfortable?
